Still so much to learn

Magnus pulled on his shirt and combed his fingers through his hair quickly, aware that he was almost out of time.  His student would arrive any moment and there were still so many things he needed to learn.

He sat down at his desk and began scrawling in a book as the dim light from the window began slipping toward darkness.  He had just about settled when he heard the telltale creak of someone approaching the outside of his door.  Timing everything with practiced perfection, he spoke clearly just as Julian's knuckles were about to rap on the obscure door near the rear of his building.

[color=#7CD98A]"Enter." [/color] He spoke clearly, certain that he could be heard.  This was a dance that they did frequently...though not as frequently as it had once been.  No...once students got a taste of the power that came with wielding magic, they often drifted away.  Julian, though...Julian had such great potential.   The biggest obstacle to overcome with Julian was one of the things that first piqued Magnus's interest - his name.  His family.  His future.  His duties.  If they could get past all that...Julian had the ability to truly become powerful.  

Magnus didn't look up from his desk, but his senses were alert as he waited for Julian to present himself for tonight's meeting.  

It was time for another lesson or session with his mentor. It was a dance they played with each other. Facilitating between Julian's family's property and Magnus's own house. The throbbing sense of desire echoed throughout his body. He dabbled in power and the desire to be the best dangled at his fingertips. His father knew he was being taught by a private tutor in ways of culture, politics, and history. The issue of him traveling between the cities was never an issue. Sometimes, Magnus would take Jilian places for a field trip of sorts. Personal experiences were always better than just verbal lessons. As he approached the building, seconds before his firm knuckles knocked on the door, Jilian heard his mentor speak the command to enter. With a burst of confidence, Jilian opened the door and glided into the room where Magnus sat. 

[color=#c10300]"Hello Magnus...How are you on this beautiful day? What sort of agenda do you have planned for me today? Something new? Technique practice? Or maybe your taking me on a field trip?"[/color] Julian's words seemed eager and pleasant. His smile radiated the sense of a student eager to please. Wanting to learn and embrace everything he was taught. His hunger for learning was driving him. Deep down within himself, a Daemon of Desire grinned with delight. The Daemon inside him had been dormant and never truly interacted with Julian. Was that by choice? Or was the Daemon biding his time for an opportunity to arise? Only time will tell.

Before Magnus looked up at Julian, his hand moved to the letter opener on his desk.  Well, it was truly a dagger, but it certainly passed for a letter opener...the sort any expensive tutor would keep around.  

As he raised his eyes, he tossed it to Julian, handle first.  It was meant to be caught, not to wound.  Well, not to wound much.  Besides, the boy's reflexes were quick enough to catch it easily.  

[color=#7CD98A]"Lesson today, field trip tomorrow.  Though...I must warn you that the field trip may be fairly unusual.  We'll get to that later, after the lesson." [/color] He closed the book and slid it into a drawer, his nimble fingers locking it and arming the mechanism that had been set up to prevent unwelcome curiosity. [color=#7CD98A] "Shall we go to the back room?"  [/color]

The back room in question was large...a storage warehouse that had been set up so that lessons could be taught away from prying eyes.  The few windows were high and covered so that only dim light streamed in.  Against the back wall, there were a few crates, set up in groups of two that were spaced 15 feet apart.  There were animals in each cage...or at least whatever remained of animals after they had been tained and corrupted by darkspawn.  They were awful to look at.  

There was no chance for the creatures to escape...he had made sure of that before even considering this particular lesson.  But the boy had to learn.  If he was ever going to weild the power coursing through his veins, he would need this.  It was non-negotiable.  

Without waiting for a reply, he stood from his desk, walked to the door, and carefully unlocked it.  He'd once been called paranoid because each door in his building had its own lock, its own defense mechanism.  But he wasn't paranoid...he was cautious.  Caution was what helped keep him alive.  

He moved through the door and then held it open for Julian to follow, closing it tightly behind them.  He made a flourish motion with his hand as Julian observed the cages for the first time, but his eyes were trained on the boy.  He was carefully watching for his reaction to these beasts, watching to see how he would handle the new stimuli in a familiar setting.  This part was just as much of a test as what was to follow.  

Julian gave his mentor...his teacher a quick nod. It was always fun when they went into the backroom. It was a chance to draw forth his manifested power from his daemon who lingered within him. To learn. To Grow. To Desire more. Immediately walking into the backroom, he could hear the noises coming within. Animal growls. They were hungry. Desperate. As he walked further in, he could see the abominations of the creatures before him. The blight had corrupted such creatures. The ichor of black blood slowly dripped from their eye sockets. Their mouth invested with dread. Mutations of their body shifted into unseen formations. How did Magnus get a hold of such creatures unseen and safely? 

Julian was surprised but also impressed with his teacher. Even after 4 years of studying under him, Magnus always found ways to surprise him. His steps didn't stop. His body kept moving him closer to the fiends of chaos. They were caged but as soon as Julian stepped within reach, they burst into chaos. They growled louder, banging claws on the metal steel trying to break out. Julian didn't react but tilted his head slightly. He watched them try to free themselves. They didn't stop. They kept their eyes on Julian waiting for him to just get closer. A bite...a nibble or even a slash. 

[color=#c10300]"Where did you get these creatures? They should be put out down...ease their suffering..." [/color]And then it hit him. That was the lesson. He was to put them down. But in what means? He hadn't used much blight magic before. It was something he never trained much in. But of him wanted to escape from fear...from failing but an echo of comfort eased him from within. Desire to learn and grow. It always starts with the unknowing. Then it will begin to improve. Only will desire be accomplished. Julian continued to stare at the beasts waiting to hear from his teacher. [color=#c10300]"I'm supposed to put them down...that's the lesson?" [/color]

Magnus watched Julian, measuring his response....or rather, lack thereof.  The boy was doing well in keeping his face neutral.  Not splendidly, but well enough.  

He motioned to a small circle on the floor...the place Julian should stand.  Magnus stood just to the left of that spot and waited as Julian took the ready position.  

[color=#7CD98A]"They do need to be put down.  They have been lost to the blight...and now the blood that runs through their veins is corrupted.  Can you feel the darkness emanating from them? Their hearts pounding away and pushing the repugnant taint into every part of their bodies.  It feeds on life, Julian."[/color]  He paused for just a moment, letting the young man next to him feel the wrongness of the creatures before them. [color=#7CD98A] "Can't you feel the life in your own blood scream out in disgust?  Can't you feel the anger rise up inside you, boiling with rage that such a thing can happen?"  [/color]

He took a step forward and turned so he could look Julian in the eyes.  

[color=#7CD98A]"I want you to reach out with that fury, to wrap it around them so that their blood boils just as yours wants to.  Feel the heat, the hatred.  Feel the burning need to protect all that is good and innocent and light in this world.  And pour all of that into them.  Scorch the vile contamination that courses through them."  [/color]

He held out a sharp blade, handle first.  

[color=#7CD98A]"And then command the magic to do your bidding.  Command their blood to boil away the ruinous infection.  Set free your power through sacrifice so that you may incinerate the blight in front of you."[/color]

And then Magnus watched...and waited.  It wasn't an easy thing to learn...even harder to call upon it in battle.  But the difference between knowing and not knowing could save lives.  It had, in fact, saved many lives.

Julian did no such thing to interrupt his mentor. Julian listened while keeping a trained eye on the beasts themselves. They were stalking. Bearing their corrupted teeth and features at Julian. Wild snarls as if they were trying to lunge out from the cages. The blight had affected these creatures in a way that turned them into foul beings. Abominations. They needed to be put down. 

Julian nodded to Magnus and stepped toward the cages. He didn't get too close but enough distance that he could do his own work. His own daemon was pouncing. Desire could smell the blight off of the beasts. It raged within him. A fire burning like a volcano. A balloon expanding wanting to explode out into tiny pieces. Taking a small breath, he closed his eyes to rebalance himself. Then he opened them once more. It was weak but there was a slight echo or vibration when he focused on the creatures. He could make the tiny bit of taint that ravaged the creatures. He raised his hand as if he was reaching out to touch the taint. His key point was the heart. Looking deep within, he felt like he could squeeze the heart itself. Gripping his hand into a tight fist he felt the touch. The lifeforce. He wanted to let go but he couldn't. Desire wouldn't let him. The first beast squealed in pain. Julian went deeper as if the threads of the blight were being strangled within their body. Soon the beast was laying down on the ground lifeless. The other beast roared with anger. 

The hard bangs of the nips and thrashing hitting upon silver bars. Julian's eyes darted, and instantly thought of taking that life force he felt and latched onto it. As he made eye contact, the feeling was gone. Struggling, he took another breath, his teeth clenched. Seconds later, vibration boomed and Julian grabbed it. Squeezing it. But now he wanted to do what Magnus told him to do. Burn them from the inside. Boil their blood. He imagined wrapping their body with a thread and pulling them into a body of boiling water. Bubbles popping. He took the sensation of this to imagine and pushed it so hard onto the remaining creatures. It seemed like it was a slow start. The creatures felt their insides boil but it was light. They were still going wild in the cages. And with this, Julian in one swift motion took a dagger sliced his hand collided both of his palms together. His own blood amplifies to increase his power. Once again he stared at the creatures and released this power and in seconds the creatures howled in pain. Their skin began to bubble from their own blood being heated within. As seconds passed both creatures exploded from the immense power. 

Julian released his hand and fell to his knee. The fatigued immediately set in. He felt light-headed. He wanted to vomit. His skin began to turn pale. So much energy of his magic drained. He needed to use blood magic to even land his entropy magic. Lifeforce magic was something he had not practiced much. He focused on manipulation power magic. Trying to regain composure, Julian slowly managed to lift himself up from the ground. From his looks, he could have been mistaken for a zombie. He was so pale. He needed some sort of substance of food to keep him from fainting. Heavy breathing, he looked at Magnus with a look of question. Did he satisfy his mentor or is he going to have to do this again?

Magnus nodded at Julian's efforts.  

[color=#7CD98A]"Not bad."  [/color]He tilted his head slightly, looking at the steam rising from the blood splattered around the cages.  [color=#7CD98A]"Now we'll do it again."  [/color]

Yes, he could see Julian.  He knew how tired he was...but that didn't matter.  This was important.  Magnus knew how much Julian was capable of, in fact, he probably knew better than Julian himself.  That's why he was certain there was more to be done.  

He turned to go retrieve the next set of cages when he heard the sound of the door between his study and the back alley opening and closing.  The locked door.  Shit.  

He saw Julian's eyes look toward the door separating them from the study.  Shit.  

He focused his mind, searching for hers.  "Not now."  But he could tell there was something wrong.  She was too focused on something she had to tell him.  She didn't understand.

Shit.  

Jaqueline felt sick.  Something was very, very wrong.  

The feeling had started as she passed the gatehouse of their estate.  Something bad waiting to be discovered.  It hadn't gone away.  

She slipped into Magnus's study.  She'd done it so many times that it didn't require much effort anymore.  That was a relief because it was taking considerably more energy than usual to keep up her usual aloofness.  Normally it wouldn't be so difficult...but normally it didn't feel like she was being stabbed in the stomach, either.  

Still, though, she kept it up.  He'd taught her well enough how to hide her emotions.  What was a little gut-wrenching pain compared to years of lessons?  Still though, not easy.  

She sat in his chair, propping her feet up on his desk and doing her best to look bored.  She figured she only had a few more seconds...

"Not now?"

What?  What was that supposed to mea-- Shit.    

The door was opening.  It was too late to change course.  

SHIT.

He knew that was going to be the response Magnus was going to say. Do it again. It was second nature. Magnus didn't even need to say the words but give a look. Julian had been in this back part of the building for several years now repeating the certain lesson until his own fatigued didn't allow him to stand. As Julian pushed him off the ground to get ready for the next set of beasts, it was the noise of a door opening and closing. A look of concern flooded Julian's face. His neck looked at the open door to Magnus office. Any doors that lead to this building should be locked. Magnus double-checked, not tripled-checked every time before they did anything. Magnus was indeed paranoid about privacy. If it were the wrong people....they would see Julian, heir to the third talon as well as blighted beasts. Right away before Julian could think, his body began to move fast. Shadows around him began to swirl as they began to form a blade of shadow. Ink-like tendrils rippled off the blade, ready to be sent at its enemy. As he made contact with the door, the blade stood behind his back as he shut the door close. His heart raced, as his own body boiled with adrenaline. He was ready to seep into the shadows themselves to strike. 

To his surprise, it was his bloody twin sister. Not just waiting patiently for Magnus but living her best life as if she lived in the office. Sitting in Magnus's chair with her feet propped up on the desk. Even Julian wasn't able to sit in his chair and wouldn't dare to. The blade that dripped tendrils of darkness soon faded into nothingness. Julian looked shocked with his eyes wide, speechless. 

[color=#c10300]"What the actual fuck are you doing here?" [/color]

Jaq looked at her twin brother, the blade in his hand dissolving into nothing but a memory.  If she didn't already feel awful, she certainly would have now.  Her brother knew she could fight but the rest of her secrets...well, fuck.  

[color=#7CD98A]"Hey Jules.  I...well, I had a message to deliver to Mr. Rhysand and figured I'd swing by while you were here."  [/color]She dropped her legs from the desk in front of her, grateful she had made the effort not to actually damage any of the papers left out.  It wasn't a particularly good story, and she knew it.  If this was going to have a chance of working, she was going to have to do better.  

She shifted her gaze to Magnus who looked as if nothing was amiss other than the fact that an impudent brat had propped her feet on his desk.  [color=#7CD98A]"Mr. Rhysand, your council will be required at the house this evening."  [/color]She smiled politely at him, then returned her gaze to Julian. [color=#7CD98A] "Dad apparently will be back from the trip.  I figured you might want to know sooner rather than later." [/color]

Perhaps that little tidbit might help temporarily distract him from this little snafu.  They still hadn't had their heart-to-heart after picking up Tomas...and she suspected that this particular encounter might now make its way onto the list of joyful things to talk about.  Honestly...the conversation was overdue, but she still hadn't figured out exactly how much she was going to tell him.

She stood up...wanting desperately to both leave and stay so she could tell Magnus the real reason she had come over.  She looked back to Magnus, her eyes meeting his with authority.  [color=#7CD98A]"I really have to go.  I do hope you'll understand, but there are arrangements to be made."[/color]  She smiled and nodded at him, as if dismissing this whole thing as par for the course.

Magnus was careful to keep his face etched in the exhausted disdain of a tutor being ordered around by his patron's entitled child.    

When she finally delivered the message, he understood.  She didn't know what was wrong...but it was wrong nonetheless.  It was something calling to her.  It was her gift.  And she had to go.  He knew better than to argue with that.  Though, they'd have to have a very serious talk about discretion.  

He nodded at her. [color=#7CD98A] "Indeed.  There are some topics I'd like to discuss with your Father as well."[/color]  His voice was flat, glare steady.  The message was clear:  he would not be tolerating this sort of behavior.  It wasn't hard to act annoyed with her sudden appearance...it was damn foolish, even considering exigent circumstances.  She needed to be better than this.  She was better than this.

Something about this interaction seemed weird to him. His sister so happened to have a key to this place. Even if she had a message from Father, she wouldn't have come from the back entrance and sat in his chair. More secrets. Something he knew he would talk to her about eventually. He was tired and it seems his mood to finish training was done. Julian looked at his sister with suspiciousness. His posture changed, he rose his back straight and took a few steps toward the door that lead to the front of the building. Looking back at his mentor and teacher, then back to his sister. 

[color=#c10300]"Seems I should at least welcome Father back. Whatever this message is about, I'm sure you will need to prepare yourself. Have a good evening....Jaq"[/color] Julian spoke as he dismissed his teacher. But then his eyes lingered on his sister. The twist of his head slanted slightly. [color=#c10300]"See you at home..."[/color] And with those last words, ripples of dark tendrils wrapped around Julian. His body was obscured from the umbramancy magic and soon vanished from site. 

Magnus suppressed an eye roll at Julian's theatrics.  The situation was bad, but the boy had the subtlety of an ox.  He really needed to work on that.  

Magnus didn't drop his guard with Julian gone.  [color=#7CD98A]"Poorly done, Ms. Mesonero.  I expect better of you."[/color]  He studied her face for signs of the emotions he could sense in her but found nothing by the smarmy mask of entitlement.  Good. 

It wasn't enough to make up for the error...but at least she wasn't compounding it.  

[color=#7CD98A]"Your message has been delivered and received.   You may go now."[/color]  It was a brutal dismissal given the pain he knew she was in, but there was nothing to be done about it.  Julian's curiosity had been piqued; they needed to tread carefully.

Jaq knew she had fucked up, so the dismissal didn't sting quite so much.  Still, though, comfort would have been nice.  Of course, that wasn't what they had - it wasn't what they would ever have.  

So she took the dismissal in stride.  He said the message had been received - and she trusted that.  That was the important thing, anyway.  The rest of what she came for...well, she'd just have to figure it out.  

She slipped out more quietly than she had come - learning from her mistakes was a necessity.   She would not be so careless again.